A free monthly review of French news & trends VOL. 09.07 AUGUST 21 Professor Engineers Marathon Journeys — and Physiological Advances For Philippe Fuchs,ultramarathon runner and professor of engineering at the elite Ecole des ware, and the Institute of Mines de Paris, it's not about the destination — it's about the journey.Fuchs, who runs 30 Movement Sciences in Marseille, to to 45 miles every day during his trips, is determined to take advantage of the magnificent create a model of his foot. Once this sights along his route: "If someone wants to show me something, I stop! I'm not so much virtual foot — the world's first — is interested in competition as discovery," Fuchs says of his travels. perfected, it will be used in hospitals At 58 and after more than 20 years running,Fuchs has seen a lot. Since his very first run for physiotherapy exercises and at the age of 36, in which he traveled from Nantes to Mont-Saint-Michel in three days, Fuchs could potentially be the first step in has embarked on multiple cross-country marathons. Many of these runs have, fittingly creating a model of the entire enough, coincided with the Olympics. In 1992, he ran from Paris to the Barcelona Olympic human body. In this way, Fuchs's Games and in 2004 he ran 1,500 miles to reach the Athens Olympics. But the 2008 Beijing marathons feed both of his pas- Olympics presented a new challenge: Fuchs had to pass through far-off countries and the sions, running and engineering,and treacherous Gobi Desert.He explains,"The greatest risk there is ofinjuring yourself.You have simultaneously provide him with to run [435 miles] on rugged dirt tracks, at temperatures of [104 degrees Fahrenheit] in the experiences, such as running .3ds.com/VplusR shade...except there isn't any shade!" through Mongolia, Montenegro © Phillipe Fuchs/Dassault Systèmes www Fuch's adventures are not just an opportunity for him to stretch his legs, however. and the Croatian islands, which he Fuchs ran from France to Beijing for the He has partnered with Dassault Systèmes, a world leader in computer-aided design soft- describes as "unforgettable." 2008 Olympic Games. The Red, White, and Blue Goes Green with New Environmental Legislature A leader of renewable energy,France reached another milestone in its envi- lawmakers also raised the 2020 national objective for renewable energy ronmental efforts on July 23 with the passage of the Grenelle 1 Bill, production from 20 to 23 percent. The bill aims to preserve natural approved by the Senate. This bill is the culmination of two years of deliber- resources and biodiversity, increase research funding for sustainable ation within the Grenelle de l’environnement, a consultative roundtable of development to one billion dollars,and improve water purity,while dou- state and civil actors advanced by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and bling France's water supply by 2015. The act also focuses on fiscal policy, launched in May 2007. The first of its kind, Grenelle 1 restructures French choice of infrastructure, regulation of public purchasing,transport poli- environmental policies and develops new requirements for growth com- cy and farming,fishing and product distribution. In addition to creating patible with the idea of finite world resources. The Act drew from the expe- an anticipated 600,000 "green" jobs, the environmental plan extends riences of a committee comprised of employers, government representa- awareness to the public by conveying present and future concerns, tives, local authorities, unions and NGOs. including the possible depletion of oil before the end of the century. The Grenelle de l’environnement officially recognizes the urgency of the Minister of Ecology and head of the Grenelle Jean-Louis Borloo under- environmental situation. One of the top priorities of the law is the con- scores that the legislation represents "a shared vision of the future...that struction sector,where all new buildings will have to abide by low energy Renewable energy is a top reunites the actors of society and representatives of the nation," demon- consumption requirements by 2012.In line with EU commitments,French priority of the new grenelle. strating that "a concerted ecological transformation is possible." French First Lady Gives First-Rate Performance In honor of Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday,French Malaria. "That which stirs up my admira- First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy took to the stage for tion is the charity of public figures, such as INSIDE the first time since her union with the French pres- Nelson Mandela, [and] their capacity to get ident a year and a half ago. On July 18, Mrs. Bruni- involved for the good of others," she 2 Current Events Sarkozy honored the former South African presi- declared in an interview for French maga- Maritime Policy dent at New York City's Radio City Music Hall for zine l'Express. 3 France & America the Mandela Day Concert by performing Bob This charity event, which held a crowd Spectacle in Chicago Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind with Dave Stewart, of 5,900, will support the Nelson Mandela 4 In Depth from the group Eurythmics. President Sarkozy was Foundation in its endeavor to raise Paris Plage among the distinguished crowd that attended the HIV/AIDS and poverty awareness in Africa. first lady's performance, which also included her hit July 18 also marked the first annual 5 Business & Tech Quelqu'un m'a dit. "Mandela Day," which will serve "to honor Parisian Tunnel Though Mrs. Bruni-Sarkozy had previously and celebrate former South African 6 Society stated that she would not appear on stage while President Nelson Mandela and his legacy." France and the U.S. her husband was president, she made an excep- Mrs. Bruni-Sarkozy was part of an tion to contribute to Mandela Day as she was impressive line-up that included artists 7 Culture Hidden Treasures Mrs. Bruni-Sarkozy named a Global Ambassador for the protection of such as Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and performed at the mothers and children against HIV/AIDS of the Aretha Franklin, as well as actors Morgan 8 France in America Mandela Day Concert. Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Freeman and Matt Damon, among others. Champlain Celebration En bref [ Current Events ] METRO “MOBIL”ITY France Navigates Toward New Maritime Policy During his visit to Le Havre on July 16, French President Nicolas Sarkozy explained the government's plans for the town's major port, but also seized the opportunity to From ordinary metro tickets, to the define and expand on France's newly established, ambi- arrival of the "carte orange," which was tious goals in maritime policy. Developed by the Grenelle recently replaced by the monthly or de la Mer, a consultative body of state actors and civil annual "Navigo" passes, many won- experts, these objectives aim to maximize the benefits dered what the next step would be in from France's seven million square miles of maritime ter- upgrading public transportation in Ile- ritories and its numerous international ports in a way that de-France. The RATP (the Autonomous will also "safeguard the future of the Earth's seas." Operator of Parisian Transports) is explor- To achieve this, President Sarkozy emphasized the need ing the possibility of installing a new for France to "open itself once again to the seas that border mobile payment system allowing all pas- it." He hopes to initiate the construction of a rapid Train à sengers to use their cell-phones as pass- Grande Vitesse (TGV) railway running from Paris to Le es to Ile-de-France's public transporta- tion network. If all goes as planned, the Havre which would bring the capital closer to France's sea- mobile payment project is expected to trading activities and make Greater Paris a maritime launch by the end of 2010. The system metropolis. He also discussed an initiative to "protect the The new initiative aims to maximize the benefits derived proved functional and compatible in test sea's natural resources in order to use them in a more sus- from France’s maritime territories in a sustainable manner. runs held in both Caen and Strasbourg. tainable manner." This involves increasing the proportion of More tests are scheduled in the spring of Marine Protected Areas from one percent of its marine territory to 10 percent by 2012. The President also aims to tap into the ocean's 2010, when 3,000 subscribers will travel renewable energy resources. To bolster the country's maritime workforce, President Sarkozy intends to establish policies for industrial throughout Nice equipped with their trades of the sea and to develop highly specialized schools for maritime training.He plans on reinforcing state actions at sea by creat- new mobile phone payment plans. This ing a body that organizes and coordinates the sharing of resources divided among Customs, the Gendarmerie, the Navy,and Maritime new system will require many modifica- Affairs. Hopes are that strategic allocations and regroupings of their resources will result in more effective operations to combat pollu- tions for cellular phone operators as well tion, illegal fishing, and narcotic trafficking, and to enforce security of maritime transport. as for metro stations, but this investment These ambitions will be more precisely defined in the coming months, when the government issues the livre bleu: a book that is not expected to have any effect on the brings together maritime policy proposals from the State, regional departments, overseas departments, labor unions, and NGOs. prices of transportation. The only aspect future users will have to consider is how to equip themselves with compatible cel- France Finds Châteaux Stimulating, Culturally and Economically lular phones.